Refrigeration apparatus



Aug. 8, 1961 A. E. cYRus REPRISE-:RAMON APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1958FIGJ.

United States Patent 2,995,649 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Alva E. Cyrus,Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 26, 1958, Ser.No. 724,028 Claims. (Cl. 240-4) This invention relates to refrigerationapparatus and more particularly to an improved, illuminated cabinetstructure for domestic refrigerators and the like.

It is common practice to provide a domestic refrigerator with a sourceof illumination which is energized when the cabinet door is opened toilluminate the interior of the refrigerator and its contents. Thisinvention provides improved means for illuminating the refrigeratorinterior and for enhancing the appearance of the refrigerator throughdecorative illumination.

In accordance with the invention, a distributed light source, such as aneon tube, is disposed about the access opening for the refrigeratorcabinet and located behind a light permeable frame which closes thespace between the front edges of the cabinet inner and outer shells.'Ihe light permeable frame permits the passage of light from the lightsource to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet for functionalillumination purposes and has a major portion of its surface areaarranged at nearly right angles to the plane of the cabinet accessopening so that the light passing through this major portion of theframe can pass rearwardly to the cabinet interior. The frame alsopreferably possesses a minor translucent portion which is arranged morenearly parallel to the plane of the cabinet access opening and which isadapted to be illuminated by the distributed light source to provide adecoratively lighted frame area at 'the access opening. 1

Among the several features of the invention is a novel supportingarrangement for the distributed light source and in which utilization ismade of insulated spacer members connecting the cabinet inner and outershells. Another feature of the invention is the utilization of the metalinner and outer cabinet shells as a protective enclosure for a highvoltage type, distributed light source and its associated electricalapparatus, such as a high voltage transformer.

Other features, as well as the objects and advantages of the invention,will become apparent from the following detailed description in whichreference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet embodyingthe illuminated cabinet structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the lower wallof the refrigerator cabinet taken as indicated by the line II-II in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through a side wall of the cabinetand taken as indicated by the line III- III in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary elevational views illustrating springclips that are employed to support the distributed light source withinthe cabinet. FIG. 4 is taken substantially as indicated by the lineIV-IV in FIG. 3.

The refrigerator illustrated in FIG, l includes a cabinet having a foodstorage compartment 11 which is accessible through the front of thecabinet by means of a ginggedly mounted door 12. The cabinet 10 isconice structed of spaced inner and outer metal shells, designated 13and 14 respectively, which are separated by heat insulation 15. Thefront edges of the inner and outer shells 13 and 14 possess spaced angedportions 16 and 17, respectively, which surround the cabinet accessopening and are arranged in planes ,which are substantially parallel tothe plane of the access opening. The flanged edge 17 of the outer shellis disposed forwardly of the ilanged edge 16 of the inner shell and thespace between the shells is bridged by a frame 18 constructed of heatinsulating material. The frame 18 is formed in several parts, which mayinclude four elongated strips 19, which extend parallel to the walls ofthe cabinet 10, and four gussets 20, which cover the joints between thestrips at the corners of the cabinet. Alternatively, the frame may bemolded in several parts with lapped joints, or may be molded or vacuumformed in one piece.

Each strip 19 of the frame 18 has a bifurcated outer edge 21 whichengages the flanged portion 17 of the cabinet outer shell. The inneredge of each frame strip 19 preferably extends at right angles to theplane of the cabinet access opening and is secured to the flange portion16 of the cabinet inner shell by means of suitable fasteners, such asscrews (not shown).

The frame 18 functions as a non-heat-conductive closure for the frontedges of the walls of the refrigerator cabinet 10 and also functions asa light permeable shield or cover for a distributed light source 22,which is disposed directly behind the frame 18 in a position to emitlight through the frame into the food storage compartment 11. In orderto permit light from the light source 22 to pass directly into theinterior of the cabinet 10, a major portion of each strip 19 is formedof transparent or translucent material and is arranged at a steep angleto the plane of the cabinet access opening, nearly at right anglesthereto. This major portion of each strip 19 is identified by thenumeral 23 in the drawings. Each frame strip 19 has a minor portion 24thereof extending along its outer edge 21 which is preferably formed ofa translucent material, so that this portion of the strip is illuminatedby the light source 22 to provide a decorative frame of light about thecabinet access opening. For economy of manufacture, the frame strips 19are of homogeneous vconstruction and are molded or extruded from atranslucent plastic material, such as polystyrene. The corner gussets 20are also made from the same or a similar light permeable material.

'I'he distributed light source 22 is preferably an elongated neon orfluorescent lamp lilled with one or more inert gases and shaped in amanner to t into the space between the cabinet inner and outer shells 13and 14 and surround or encompass the access opening of the cabinet. Thelight source 22 is conveniently supported in a position to direct lightthrough the frame 18 interiorly of the cabinet 10 by means of metalclips 26 or similar fasteners disposed at spaced intervals along thelightsource 22 in positions to grip plate-like spacer members 27, whichare secured to the forward flanged portions 16 and 17 of the inner andouter cabinet shells by means of screws, as shown in FIG. 3. It will benoted that the light source 22 is positioned well forward of the frontedge 16 of the cabinet inner shell 13, and nearer to the planes of thewalls of the inner shell than to the planes of the walls of the outershell 14, so that the inner shell does not obstruct the passage of lightto the cabinet interior.

Spacer members 27, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, areconventionally utilized in domestic refrigerator cabinets for thepurpose of supporting the cabinet inner shell 13 in proper spacedrelation to the outer shell 14. For the present application, the spacermembers 27 are preferably formed of a material, such as glass reinforcedpolyester resin, having both heat and electrical insulatingcharacteristics to prevent the transfer of heat into the interior of therefrigerator cabinet and to electrically isolate the light source 22from electrical conductive portions of the cabinet 10, such as the innerand outer metal shells 13 and 14. The distributed light source 22 isenergized from a normal household supply of electrical current, usuallyll() volts A.C., through a high voltage transformer 28 which isconnected to the ends of the light source22 by high voltage leads 29(see FIG. 2). The transformer 28 is preferably located within one of thewalls of the refrigerator cabinet 19 between the inner and outer shells13 and 14 which deine the cabinet walls. In this location, the cabinetshells 13 and 14 provide a protective enclosure for the transformer 2S,the high voltage leads 29 and the distributed light source 22, so thatthe likelihood of the user of the refrigerator coming in contact withhigh voltage electricity is remote.

If desired, different decorative effects can be created with theilluminating structure of this invention by providing the light source22 with a tinted coating or by utilizing colored plastic materials inthe fabrication of the frame 1S, either within the frame strips 19 andgussets 20 or by means of surface coatings for these frame parts. Bysuch means, the interior of the cabinet can be illuminated with light of` a particular color, for example, a color which enhances theappearance of foodstuffs stored within the compartment 11, and the samerative portions 24 of the frame strips 19. It can be seen that numerouscolor combinations for functional and decorative purposes can beachieved.

From the foregoing it will be apparent this invention provides a novelapproach to the functional illumination of refrigerator cabinetinteriors and further enhances the appearance of refrigerator cabinetsthrough the medium of decorative illumination.

While the invention has been shown in but one form it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that numerous changes can be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator cabinet having a storage compartment provided with anaccess opening at the front thereof, said cabinet including spaced innerand outer shells of opaque material having corresponding front edgep01'- tions disposed in spaced relation to each other and in planessubstantially parallel to the plane of the cabinet opening, the edgeportion of said outer shell being located forwardly and outwardly of thecorresponding edge portion of said inner shell, a frame of translucentheat insulating material having inner and outer marginal edgesrespectively engaging the front edge portions of said inner and outershells, said frame having a major portion of the exterior surfacethereof arranged more nearly at right angles to the plane of said accessopening than parallel thereto, a distributed light source encompassingsaid access opening and located behind said frame, and means forsupporting said light source in a position forwardly ofthe front edge ofsaid inner shell to direct light through the said major portion of saidframe rearwardly into said compartment to illuminate said compartmentand forwardly through the frame for decorative illumination.

2. A refrigerator cabinet having a storage compartment provided with anaccess opening at the front thereof, said cabinet including spaced innerand outer shells of opaque material having corresponding front edgeportions disposed in spaced relation to each other and in planessubstantially parallel to the plane of the cabinet opening, the edgeportion of said outer shell being located forwardly and outwardly of thecorresponding edge portion of said inner shell, a plurality of heatinsulating spacer members disposed about said opening and extendingbetween said inner and outer shells, a frame of translucent heatinsulating material having inner and outer marginal edges respectivelyengaging the front edge portions of said inner and outer shells, saidframe having a major portion of the exterior surface thereof arrangedmore nearly at right angles to the plane of said access opening thanparallel thereto, a distributed light source encompassing said accessopening and located behind said frame, and means for supporting saidlight source on said spacer members in a position forwardly of the frontedge of said inner shell to direct light through the said major portionof said frame rearwardly into said compartment to illuminate saidcompartment and forwardly through the frame for decorative illumination.

3. A refrigerator cabinet having a storage compartment provided with anaccess opening at the front thereof, said cabinet including spaced innerand outer shells of opaque material having corresponding front edgeportions disposed in spaced relation to each other and in planessubstantially parallel to the plane of the cabinet opening, the edgeportion of said outer shell being located forwardly and outwardly of thecorresponding edge portion of said inner shell, a frame of translucentheat insulating material having inner and outer marginal edgesrespectively engaging the front edge portions of said inner and outershells, said frame having a major portion of the exterior surfacethereof arranged more nearly at right angles to the plane of said accessopening than parallel thereto, said frame also having a minor surfaceportion arranged more nearly parallel to the plane of said accessopening than at right angles thereto, a distributed light sourceencompassing said access opening and located behind said frame, andmeans for supporting said light source in a position forwardly of thefront edge of said inner shell to direct light rearwardly through thesaid major portion of said frame to illuminate said compartment andforwardly through said minor portion of the frame to decorativelyilluminate said minor portion of the frame.

4. A refrigerator cabinet having a storage compartment provided with anaccess opening at the front thereof, said cabinet including spaced innerand outer shells of opaque material having corresponding front edgeportions disposed in spaced relation to each other and in planessubstantially parallel to the plane of the cabinet opening, the edgeportion of said outer shell being located forwardly and outwardly of thecorresponding edge portion of said inner shell, a plurality of heatinsulating spacer members disposed about said opening and extendingbetween said inner and outer shells, a strip of translucent heatinsulating material extending around at least the top and the sides ofsaid access opening and having inner and outer edges thereofrespectively engaging the front edge portions of said inner and outershells, a distributed light source disposed between said strip and saidspaced members and being coextensive in length with said strip, andmeans for supporting said light source on said spacer members in aposition forwardly of the front edge of said inner shell to direct lightrearwardly through said strip to illuminate said compartment andforwardly through said strip for decorative illumination.

5. A refrigerator cabinet having a storage compartment provided with anaccess opening at the front thereof, said cabinet including spaced innerand outer metal shells having corresponding front edge portions disposedin spaced relation to each other and in planes substantially parallel tothe plane of the cabinet opening, the edge portion of said outer shellbeing located forwardly of the corresponding edge portion of said innershell, a heat insulating strip having inner and outer edges thereofrespectively engaging the front edge portions of said inner and outershells, said strip being constructed at least in part of light-permeablematerial, a high voltage distributed light source disposed behind saidstrip and adapted to emit light through said strip to illuminate saidcompartment, a transformer for converting ordinary household electricalenergy to high voltage energy for energizing said light source, and apair of electrical leads connecting said transformer to said lightsource, said transformer being disposed between the metal inner andouter shells of the cabinet, whereby said cabinet shells are utilized asa protective enclosure for said transformer and said leads.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0E CORRECTION Patent No. 2,995,649August, 8 1961 Alva E. Cyrus It is hereby certified that error appearsin the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent. should. read as corrected below.

Column 3xI line 37, after same insert or a different color light can beemitted from the decocolumn 4v line 4 for "spaced" read spacer Signedand sealed this 12th day of December 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of PatentsUSCOMM-DC-

